The Washington critic., 1887-04-21
TOPICS OF THE DAY.

from the Slope few days before the
Interstate Commerce law went into
effect. They had been out of San
Francisco two days and were passing
through rather rocky and dusty dis.
trict, when an Englishman got aboard
the train and entered the Pullman car.
About sundown Mr.. Lincoln and his
party and the Englishman went out on
the rear platform TO enjoy the evening
breeze. The conductor Joined them a
few moments later. The Englishman
went down into his pocket, pulled out
q long string of tinted paper and
handed II to the ticket puncher. Whats
thatf" asked the conductor with
an air of surprise. eli bought hit of
your blawsted company" replied the
Englishman In alarm. And what do
you call it?'' "Why, blawst your eyes,
that's ticket; cawn't you sec?" 80
1t is" drawled the conductor, winding
the string on his arm. "Its thefrst
one I've seen since | left Oakland aud
I'd forgotten how they looked. Beg
PARDON, sir"
~
Colonel mick" Smith of Keptuclsy,
at one time called the handsomest man
In America, called at the White House
the other afternoon, and u friend who
was with him said to the Boston Trdc.
eler's correspondent shortly afterwards
"Nicki is now about 80 years of age, and,
rs you see, Is remarkably well pre-.
served man. There is no finer pistol
shot or more expert swordsman in all
Kentucky to day than he. lie can hit
10 cent piece at 10 PAGES times out
of 10. The story of his second mar
riage is most remarkable one. A friend
of his met him out in Shelby County
one day and observing that he had pre-.
pared for journey, inquired as to bis
destination. Nick replied, 4 am going
to be married. What said the
friend In tone of astonishment, Il did
not know that you were engaged
Nor am L. replied Nick. I have
never even seen the lady, but have
heard all about her, and ! am going
East TO make her my wife. Nick
went East, as he said he would, and
won his bride. The lady was Miss Ida
Greeley, the daughter of Horace
Greeley. AS you know, she is dead,
but one of her children, little girl, is
the glorifled image Of the great journal.
ist
w.
"We are now." said Mr.. Bancroft at
Nashville, 1.-THE grandest and largest
country Of the civilized world, unless"
he added, after pause, "you except
Russia, and that only in point of popu
lation and territory. We are all that
makes nation strong" When asked
whether we shall become free trade
or protective Government, Mr.. Ban.
croft turned to member of the press,
stating this was question for
which the journalists must find an
answer. The distinguished gentle.
man declined 10 converse upon
the subject of his own labors
of the present time, saying 1t was not
fair to ask man Of SO how much work
he had laid out ahead but that 1t was
not his nature to remain idle. In re-
ply to a question as to the further scope
of his intentions as to his history, he
replied that he must take his own time
TO answer. He was here to examine
Mr.. Folks papers from the esteem
AMI Election he bore the man.
~
Hon. Robert c. Winthrop of Boston
is at the Fifth Avenue Hotel, New
York, with his wife and daughter. Mr..
Winthrop is now in his 10Th year. The
Sun says that he may go to Wash.
ington before returning to the Hub.
What memories would be revived in
his mind by visit to the National
Capital He succeeded Daniel Webster
in the United States Senate, when the
Massachusetts statesman was made Sec.
rotary of State, and only failed of re.
election after memorable struggle
with Charles Sumner. There Is fame
enough for lifetime in these two
events. Mr.. Winthrop also served
twelve terms In Congress, and pre-.
sided over that body during one
of them. lie practically retired from
active politics after strong but unsuc.
cessful contest for gubernatorial hon.
ors. He Is now Chairman of the Pea.
body Educational Fund Trustees, and
devotes his time to that and matters of
q similar nature. Mr.. Winthrop is the
link between the era Of the statesman
and that of the politician. He defines
himself as an Independent with big |
In latter.day politics. II don't recog.
nize any such disagreeable term as
Mugwump,' he remarked to Sun
reporter yesterday. 81 never fail to
vote, but for forty years have done my
own thinking l voted for President
Cleveland. Shall do so again? That's
leading question, young man, AMI |
am not Inclined to be interviewed.
rs
John 4. Raymond is dead, but
Colonel Sellers still lives. In one of the
private parlors of the Fifth Avenue IIo-
tel miniature railroad, made of wood,
has been built TO illustrate the practi-
cability of 'bicycle railroad car" A
single track underneath aud one over
head are all that Is necessary, accord.
Ing to the inventors plan. Two wheels
above and below the car are supposed
10 be sufficient to hold 1t In place,
while 1t is run through the grooves like
n shuttle cock at the rate of 100 miles
in hour. The man who is responsible
for The bicycle car Is very enthusiastic
over 1t. He was figuring on its pros.
pcctive value the other day while talk.
ing with capitalist, whom he wan'cd
to interest In the scheme to the
extent of $50. Il will giveyou 100000
worth Of stock outright" lie went on,
aud an option on a million at par"
GLOW much do you estimate II will he
worth in six months 2" inquired the
man of money, "A hundred to one"
was the reply Every dollar of stock
will be worth hundred" "Let me
see," said the capitalist. "If ] took
S1NN 600 now TINT Mnnll hn Il millinn